The document analyzes the genre and conventions of the horror film "Dawn of the Dead". It discusses how the genre is defined by conventions like gore, dark settings, and terrifying imagery. Specifically, it belongs to the zombie horror subgenre. It notes that horror aims to trigger the imagination and elicit an adrenaline response from audiences. Typically, male teenagers are the main viewers. Common conventions highlighted in the film analysis include scenes of characters investigating strange sounds and not returning, settings in isolated areas, characters dying in stupid ways, an unkillable killer, and the use of blood and gore. Stereotypes of strong male protectors and vulnerable female characters are both reinforced and challenged in horror film trailers.
2. Dawn Of The Dead
DEATH
Click here to watch
trailer and find out
more.
3. Genre?
• The genre is Horror, this is because of
the basic conventions: blood, dark settings
and gory images.
• Other films with the same genre are :
Warm Bodies
The Conjuring
Insidious
Carrie
4. The purpose of the horror genre is:
• Terrify people with tales that trigger less
logical parts in our imagination.
• Horror films derive basic thrills form
triggering the rush of adrenalin which our
fears brings.
• This is presented by the use of basic
conventions such as darkness
5. Audience?
• The audience it targeted at teenagers.
• To be precise the main audience directed
at male teenagers.
• Stereotypically, male teenagers love horror
movies.
6. Horror Conventions: Examples From Some Films
When a character sees, hears
something mysterious, they always go
and investigate what it is and end ups
not coming back.. Or hurt
‘Silent Hill’
Usually set in dark streets and narrow
alleyways, old houses(‘haunted
houses’), abandoned/isolated areas.
Anything that connotes with the idea
of isolation or being alone.
‘ The Possession’
‘Stupid’ character that does something
to die in a stupid way or heads towards
the danger
‘ Sinister’
Splitting the group up in the woods,
cave, haunted house, a dark place,
station: any creepy location.
‘The Cabin In The Woods’
When trying to escape the vehicle
never starts
‘Jeepers Creepers’
The killer never seems to die ‘ A Nightmare On Elm Street’
Blood, Gory images ‘Creep’
Conventions:
7. Conventions Genre:
Conventions Evidence Explanation
Blood, Gory Images In every horror movie
there is some sort of blood
or gory imagery. This is
highlighted by the use of
screen grabs.
Isolated areas Horror films is usually
has a sense of isolation
and this screen grabs
presents that.
Dying in stupid ways In every horror movie most
people die in stupid ways
and this screen grabs
reveals how the person did
a foolish act and ending up
dying.
The killer never seems to
die
The screen grabs illustrate
how the killers never seem
to die: The population of
killers is increasing.
8. Subgenres Of The Film
• Subgenre is Horror/Zombies.
They portray viral reliving corpses/ mindless
humans that feed of the living.
• Other films in the same subgenre are:
Warm Bodies
Night Of The Living Dead
I Am A Legend
9. Connotations & Denotations
Physically the child is
there, mentally she’s not.
She has turned into a
Zombie.
A girl with blood of her
face and looks
possessed.
An empty area. No one
is the shopping mall.
Isolation has occurred,
there are no humans left
or they are in hiding. This
environment creates a
sense of loneliness and
desertion
10. Connotations & Denotations
Woman
slipped into
the bath.
Her status is physically low and
the fact that she fell into the
bath indicates to the audience
that she doesn’t have much
authority. This is also
represented by the use of
camera angles, the higher up
makes the main character seem
weak and vulnerable.
Landscape of a city
The fact that the
screen grab is dark
suggests a sense of
cold, loneliness,
darkness and some
sort of danger.
11. How are people, places or objects
represented in the trailers?
Places:
The killers seem to be located in:
• Dark areas
• Isolated areas
Dark, mysterious, dangerous, isolated, abandoned areas
which attract the Zombies because that is when they are
most fearful.
High angle shows
the danger!
Isolation
Fear
12. How are people, places or objects
represented in the trailers?
People:
The people are portrayed as
terrified, scared, vulnerable and in
need of protection.
Terrified!
Vulnerable
Low camera angles to indicate that the killers are
dominating because they look like a threat: audience
feels sympathetic towards the humans because there
insecurities has been revealed.
13. Explain the Stereotypes in trailer.
Popular area-
Desertion. The big muscular
character who is meant
to be the protector gets
scared at timesIn horror films, there are often
stereotypical characters which are
strong and tough; they usually look
after the weak and at times they’re weak
as well.
14. Explain the Stereotypes in trailer.
Safe, secure
place-
Closure,
warmth.
He is vulnerable(
Blood, pain, hurt) and
the high angle makes
him look vulnerable.
In horror films, there are often
stereotypical male characters which
keep their partners safe yet are
misguided when it comes to their
children and end up dead.
15. Are the Stereotypes Challenged or
Reinforced?
Stereotype Reinforced Challenged
Killers as
threatening
Low angled shots
making the
Killers seem
superior and
invincible.
Big, muscular
character
Strong male, with
muscles,
protector of the
weaker.
Also is
represented as
weak, when the
pressure to
conform is too
much to handle.